Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee will decide whether to approve The English Curling Association’s (ECA) planning application to transform a disused barn at Hayley Green Farm into a curling rink.

Support for the plan has been received from all over the globe, with 120 letters backing the application coming from as far as Switzerland, Germany and the United States.

The plan includes converting the empty barn as well as adding a 13m x 30m extension. The rink would include three curling lanes, a reception area, gallery area, club room, cellar and bar area, classroom, kitchen, shower facilities and changing rooms.

A new access road to the rink off Bracknell Road would also be created.

Stephen Hinds, national development director for the ECA, who is masterminding the project, said: “Curling is a very easy sport to learn and nearly everyone can be playing to a level they enjoy within half an hour. However to master it takes years and it is like golf in a way, where you can still be learning 40 years on.

“We want to encourage everyone to come along – anyone from nine to 90 years old can try it out. We want to make it easily accessible for both able-bodied and disabled people too.

“It is a very exciting project. After both the Olympic and Paralympic teams did amazingly well at the Winter games earlier this year, hopefully people will look to get more involved in the sport.” If approved, the facility would become only the second curling rink in England — the existing one is Fenton’s Curling Rink in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Mr Hinds anticipates the rink would be open to the public by June, while people could make bookings for time on the ice from as early as January.

Despite Warfield Parish Council recommending the plans be refused on the grounds of traffic concerns and the application also receiving 14 letters of objection, the council’s planning officers have recommended it for approval.